Math- Week of February 2nd
Does your student help you with projects in the house or yard, perhaps installing floor tiles or spreading grass seed? Many home projects involve finding areas so that you can purchase the correct amount of materials needed for the project. For example, how many bags of mulch would you need to buy to cover your raised garden bed? How many rolls of wallpaper do you need to cover the walls of a room?
You and your student can discuss how to find areas for projects you might tackle around your home. You can ask the student:
- “Suppose we covered a large section of wall with chalkboard paint. How would we find the area we wanted to paint?” Your student might answer, “Measure how high and how far across, then multiply.” Then ask, “If one quart of paint covers 65 square feet of wall, how many quarts would we need to paint the blackboard section with 2 coats?” Your student would multiply the area by 2 and compare that number to 65. For example, a blackboard 8 feet wide and 5 feet high is 40 square feet, and 2 coats would be 80 square feet. One can of paint would not be enough.
- “Suppose we put new carpet in your bedroom. How many square feet would we need to buy? How would we figure this out?” Your student might answer, “Measure each wall of the room and multiply. If the room isn’t a perfect rectangle, divide it into smaller pieces that are easier to work with.”
Getting your student involved with home projects develops useful skills for helping around the house, finding a part-time job, and eventually being responsible for his or her own home.
Enjoy your time working together!